Package dyeing machine



June 29, 1943. w E, BELL PACKAGE DYEING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 29, 19 4 3. w. E. H. BELL PACKAGE DYEINGIMACHINE Filed April 5 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill ///A:)'/ 11 l I/Z6 Z i 16' j I Z6 21 .Zi-zuerzjirr- If" EHE ZZ .-Pdt'ented lune 29, 1943 memos prams. momma William E. H. Bell, Glenside, Pa., assignor to H. W. Butter-worth & Sons Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 5, 1940, Serial No. 328,107

Claims, (Cl. 68-189) This invention relates to package dyeing machines and, more particularly, to package dyeing machines wherein the dyeing fluid is pumped through the packages under pressure.

As is well known to those familiar with the art, control of the pressure generated in such a dyeing machine is highly important to the dyeing' operation, since the pressure determines the amount of dyeing fluid which is delivered through the material in any given period.

In the usual dyeing machine of this character the dye is forced through the material package first from one direction and then another, the keir embodying an internal manifold having spindles upon which the packages are mounted and through which the material is delivered to the interior of. the package or withdrawn from the interior of the package. The liquid is alternately directed through this manifold and through the outer wall of the keir in order that the dyeing operation may be uniform.

Obviously, a pump delivering a given number of gallons per minute against a predetermined pressure will deliver more fluid through a loosely wound package than through a tightly wound package, with the result that the loosely wound package will be more deeply dyed in a given time than a tightly wound package.

dyeing machines of an element which may be readily added to present installations.

A further object of the invention is the production of a construction of this character in which the amount of dye delivered may be placed directly under the control of the operator.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein, for the purpose. of illustration, I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein;,.

Fig. Lis a plan view partially in horizontal sggtioh illustrating dyeing apparatus constructed Since it is impossible to secure uniform density in the packages, particularly in view of the fact that coarser yarns cannot be so tightly wound as finer yarns, it is substantially impossible with the ordinary construction and arrangement of such devices to secure any real uniformity in the dyeing operation. Furthermore, a pump which delivers liquid at high velocity through a loosely wound package will tend to produce furry" yarn and thus detract from the value of the finished product.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a construction whereby a uniform quantity of dye may be passed through the packages without regard to the consistency or size thereof.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a construction wherein the dye is forced into the strands of the packages at a definite pressure, without regard to the consistency or size thereof, and without regard to the direction of flow of the liquor through the package.

Another object of the invention is the production of a structure of this character which may be readily and cheaply produced and which is, of itself, the result of incorporation in standard in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the dyeing appa- I r'atus partially in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the control valve;

Fig. 4 is asection on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sectional views showing modified forms of devices for producing back pressure in the keir.

I Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral Ill generally designates a pressure dyeing keir comprising a tank having an internal header I l supporting a number of packages II which are to be dyed. In the present illustration these packages are shown as yarn packages, but it will be readily understood that they might comprise packages of sheet material where so desired. Associated with the-keir I0 is an expansion tank l3 open to the atmosphere and adapted to contain a supply of dyestufi, washing liquid or other liquid used in treatment of the material in the packages [2. A pump II has its suction I5 communicating with an outlet ii of a'four-way valve II, the conduit it which ing the other of these ports through a by-pass 26 in communication with the outlet port ii of the valve. Valve body 24 may be rotated in any suitable manner, a hand wheel H being at present illustrated. In the conduit l8 between the outlet port It and the point of communication of expansion tank i3 with the conduit II, I place a metering device, preferably an adjustable metering device such as valve 21, adjustment of which will determine the amount of fluid which may be discharged from the keir to the expansion tank and inlet of the pump and which, accordingly, may be used to determine the rate of flow of liquid from the pump through the keir and through the material contained therein. In lieu of the valve 21, a flxed orifice such as that shown at 21a in Fig. 5, or a venturi such as that shown at 21b in Fig. 6 may be employed.

It will be obvious that by utilization of a structure of this character the difficulties met with in dyeing due to variation in flow through the yarn may be eliminated and a much more uniform dyeing action obtained. It will also be obvious that the present arrangement involves a slight modification of the existing machines and adapts itself readilyto modification-of such ma-' chines where this is desired.

Attention is directed to the fact that in employing an arrangement of this character it is essential that the four-way valve be of such type that it have a fixed discharge port since, otherwise,

I use of the restriction could not be resorted to.

As the apparatus is capable of considerable modification without departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In package dyeing apparatus of the type described, a keir including a manifold mounting packages to be dyed and from which dyeing fluid may be delivered to the interior of the packages, an open container for dyeing fluid, a pump having its intake in communication with said container, means to connect the outlet of said pump with said manifold or with the interior of the keir exteriorly of said manifold and the packages supported thereby, means including a conduit to return the dyeing fluid from said keir or manifold to said container, and a venturi in the conduit creating a predetermined back pressure in the keir.

2. In package dyeing apparatus, a container for dyestuff, a pump having its intake connected with the container, means to selectively direct the discharge of the pump through the packages to be dyed from either the interior or exterior thereof, means including a single conduit for returning the dyestuff to said container after its passage through the package in either direction, and a venturi in the conduit creating a prede- ...termined back pressure in the keir.

3. In package dyeing apparatus of the type described, a closed keir having a manifold mounting packages to be dyed and by means of which dyeing fluid may be delivered to or withdrawn from the interior of the packages, a pump, means to connect the outlet of said pump with said manifold or with the interior of the keir exteriorly to the packages and the intake of the pump with either the keir or the manifold, said means comprising a single valve having inlet and outlet ports connected respectively to the discharge of the pump and to the intake thereof, the con-- nection between the valve and intake of the pump including an expansion tank and a single means reducing the effective diameter of the connection between the outlet port of the valve and the expansion tank and thereby creating a predetermined back pressure in the keir without regard to the direction of circulation of dyeing fluid through the keir.

4. In package dyeing apparatus of the type described, a closed keir having a manifold mounting packages to be dyed and by means of which dyeing fluid may be delivered to or withdrawn from the interior of the packages, a pump, means to connect the outlet of said pump with said manifold or with the interior of the keir exteriorly to the packages and the intake of the pump with either the keir or the manifold, said means comprising a single valve having inlet and outlet ports connected respectively to the discharge of the pump and to the intake thereof, a single means reducing the effective diameter of the connection between the outlet port of the valve and the intake of the pump and thereby creating a'predetermined back pressure in the keir without regard to the direction of circulation of dyeing fluid through the keir, an open container for dyeing fluid, and an outlet for said container entering the connection between the outlet port of the valve and the intake of the pump at apoint beyond said reducing means i described, a closed keir having a manifold mount-- ing packages to be dyed and by means of which dyeing fluid may be delivered to or withdrawn from the interior of the packages, a pump, means to connect the outlet of said pump with said manifold or with the interior of the keir exteriorly to the packages and the intake of the pump with either the keir or the manifold, said means comprising a single valve having inlet and outlet ports connected respectively to the discharge of the pump and to the intake thereof, a single orifice reducing the efiective diameter of the connection between the outlet port of the valve and the intake of the pump and thereby creating a predetermined back pressure in the keir without regard to the direction of circulation of dyeing fluid through the keir, an open container for dyeing fluid, and an outlet for said container entering the connection between the outlet port of the valve and the intake of the pump at a point beyond said orifice from the valve.

WILLIAM E. H. BELL. 

